A man has been jailed for beating his neighbour's pet dog to death near Victor Harbor, south of Adelaide.
Steven John Leffanue, 57, pleaded guilty in February to two counts of ill-treating an animal to cause death or serious harm, two counts of unlawfully being on premises, and one count of dishonestly taking property without consent.
His lawyer previously told the court Leffanue had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and that his auditory hypersensitivity had been triggered by the dog barking over a period of 20 months.
He was accused of beating the dog, taking it to an empty neighbouring property and leaving it there for five days before returning to kill it.
Appearing via video link from the Christies Beach Magistrates Court, Magistrate Lynette Duncan sentenced Leffanue to 18 months in prison with a non-parole period of seven months for the crimes.
He was also forbidden from having animals in future.
She said given the gravity of the offences and the need for community protection and safety, a prison term was justified.
'Strong message'
In sentencing, she said Pup the dog had died a violent death and that it was difficult to envisage a more serious example of animal cruelty.
"The objective circumstances of these offences are at the highest end of the scale for offences of their kind," she said.
"The penalty imposed must send a clear and strong message to you and others that ill-treatment causing serious harm or death to animals will not be tolerated and will result in significant penalties."
The vet who performed a necropsy on Pup previously said the dog had suffered "unusually severe trauma".
"The RSPCA vet who had a part in reviewing the necropsy said that they were 'utterly appalled by the pain this dog would have endured before its death,'" a police prosecutor told the court in June.
The prosecutor quoted the vet as saying that it was "one of the worst" instances of abuse they had come across.
An RSPCA SA spokesperson today told the ABC that the organisation hoped the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others.
"This was a very serious matter involving a loved family dog that has clearly suffered a violent and needless death at the hands of this individual," the spokesperson said.
"We also hope the sentence brings some comfort to the owners of this dog, who have been understandably traumatised by what occurred last November."
'I can breathe again'
In June, Ms Sherwin told the court that since Pup was killed she had been afraid for her children's safety, worried to leave her other pets at home alone, and suffered from sleeping difficulties.
She described Pup as a gentle dog and her best friend.
Outside court today, Ms Sherwin said she had not been expecting the court's ruling.
"I didn't expect any jail time, so it definitely feels like justice," she said through tears.
"Knowing that I don't have to worry about him, think about him … I can just remember my beautiful girl and get him out of my head altogether."
